Cougar Williams was not one to wait on ceremony. As soon as postgame handshakes were completed, Hanford High's senior wide receiver/defensive back rushed across the field to the east end zone toward Principal Cheryl Hunt, who had the Milk Can at her feet.

Naturally, she offered little resistance as Williams picked it up and held it high over his head.

Later, the bubbly Williams would splash his teammates with milk and also take a sip or two himself from the trophy.

"We haven't had it here for a long time," said Williams, saying it all.

It may not be as storied as the Stanley Cup, or as shiny as the Lombardi Trophy, but after Friday night, thanks to a pair of Williams touchdowns and another shutdown defensive effort, the Milk Can is back in Hanford after the Bullpups' 28-2 victory over Lemoore in front of a full house at the Neighbor Bowl.

"The kids played a really great game," said Hanford coach Josh Young, who won the Milk Can for the first time as a coach. "This is a long-standing rivalry and I'm happy for our team and the town of Hanford."

With the win, the first for the Bullpups over the Tigers since 2005, Hanford improved to 9-1 on the season and 5-1 in West Yosemite League play and possible home field advantage throughout the Central Section Division III playoffs.

Hanford continues to lead the Milk Can series, 34-29-3.

The Section seeding committee meets today in Porterville and results will be posted on the Section's Web site.

Lemoore falls to 5-6 and 3-3 in the WYL.

Thing didn't look as rosy at the start of this one for the 'Pups, however.

Lemoore's only points of the game came in the first quarter, when a center snap deep in Hanford territory was juggled, forcing 'Pup quarterback Bryant Furtado to fall on it in the end zone for a safety with 8:47 left.

After that, though, it was Hanford's night.

The Bullpups went ahead on their next possession, a seven-play, 71-yard drive capped by a 25-yard pass from Furtado to Williams down the right sideline with 4:02 to go in the half.

Lemoore countered with what turned out to be its best threat all night driving down to Hanford's 18, but on fourth-and-three, a Scott Loper pass intended for Chris Thompson in the end zone went incomplete.

Ten plays later, Williams made it 14-2 on a 17-yard pass from Furtado on the left flat with 6:04 remaining before the break.

Conner Kurtz widened the lead to 17-2 on the final play of the half on a 21-yard field goal.

The Bullpups tightened up defensively in the second half, allowing Lemoore only 38 yards total offense and containing Loper, who had success on play-action passes in the first half.

"Coach told us that Lemoore was a second-half team and had made a lot of comebacks," Williams said. "We wanted to take them out of it early."

Hanford added to the lead in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard Kurtz field that bounced off the crossbar at its midpoint and went in with 9:33 left. Kurtz had stopped his approach after a bad snap and avoided an attempted block.

Hanford's Brandon Putnam intercepted a Loper pass and returned it 30 yards for the score with 7:20 left to end the scoring.

Furtado was 17-of-25 passing for 156 yards out of the Bullpups' spread set. Williams was his top target, with eight catches for 90 yards.

Lemuel Hutchings had eight carries for 84 yards to lead Hanford.

Hanford outgained Lemoore 312-159.

Guillermo Manzo had five carries for 30 yards to lead Lemoore's ground attack. Loper completed 11-of-17 passes for 77 yards.

Hanford's Kevin Austin had a pair of fumble recoveries.

The sports editor can be reached at 583-2430.

(Nov. 14, 2008)